There's also a reenactment of a scene from the Salem witch trials and a tour of a replica of the dungeon that was unearthed when the telephone company was excavating land for a new location. This experience starts with an explanation of the early happenings of Salem, how corruption and greed led to the deaths of innocent Puritans who happened to own land that the powerful wanted. WHERE TO GO The Witch Dungeon Museum: I always like to start a day in Salem with a little reminder of the dangers of fear and mass hysteria by heading to the Witch Dungeon Museum. I hope this guide to some of my favorite stops helps you to discover your own path there. Salem has so much to share with any visitor open to its magic. While community is valued here, the invitation to explore, with respect, is graciously extended. This sentiment is felt throughout the city, from the "Black Lives Matter" flags I saw hanging from a church to the rainbow signs and crosswalks I saw in and around businesses. A placard at The Witch House breaks down why the witch trials still matter and then asks visitors to consider and reflect on the "overall growing sense of unease and uncertainty in our modern world," before offering a solution: compassion. The thing I respect most about Salem is that it does not hide from its dark history, but rather tries to learn from it, and apply the atmosphere of apprehension, divisiveness, and fear prevalent in 1692 to things happening today. Salem also has a substantial wellness and spiritual community-and, of course, witches. No matter the season, you can always find something to satisfy your interests, from walking ghost tours to history talks, pub crawls, local artisans (there's a city-wide initiative to keep large retailers out and local business in), and so much good food. Maybe that sounds perfect to you, but if you have any type of crowd anxiety, it can be a nightmare. I make it a point to go to Salem the last weekend of October because the city is in peak Halloween/witch/ghost mode, but I think it's also crucial to visit in the off-season (like springtime), because going in October is like entering witchy Comic-Con (but with a LOT of baby strollers). Each resident is proud and protective of the city (rightfully so), but almost everyone I've ever encountered is excited to share their knowledge of the place and experience with it. Every corner of Salem has a story, and the people that make up the community are a mix of descendants of the original settlers and those who have been drawn to the area's rich energy and community. ![]() A few years ago, I finally made the trip with a dear friend, and have been making my way back as often as possible ever since. As a young history nerd and burgeoning occultist raised in Southern California, Salem, Massachusetts, was always on my radar for future exploration, and once I made it to New York, it became my mission to get up there and see it.
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